Sports Digest: Biddeford OKs move to Class B in football

Sprints are part of the first day of football practice at Biddeford HS with coach Brian Curit. John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

HIGH SCHOOLS

Biddeford OKs switch to Class B in football

The Biddeford School Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously in favor of moving Biddeford High football from Class A to Class B competition.

The school department will now petition the Maine Principals’ Association’s Management Committee to allow the football team to compete in Class B beginning in 2015.

District officials say the move is necessary because of Biddeford’s declining enrollment. The high school has 775 students, 100 below the Class A cutoff.

School officials said there have been more injuries because there are fewer athletes to play and that Biddeford belongs in Class B with schools of similar size.

SOCCER

UEFA SUPER CUP: Cristiano Ronaldo put a disappointing World Cup behind him, scoring both goals for Real Madrid as it won the UEFA Super Cup with a convincing 2-0 victory over Sevilla at Cardiff, Wales.

MLS: The New York Red Bulls acquired forward Saer Sene and an international roster slot from the New England Revolution for forward Andre Akpan and allocation money.

TENNIS

WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Venus Williams were beaten in the first round at Mason, Ohio.

Tsonga fell to Mikhail Youzhny 6-1, 6-4.

Williams lost to Lucie Safarova 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4.

The tournament lost its other defending champion when Victoria Azarenka withdrew because of an injured right knee. Defending champion Rafael Nadal withdrew before the tournament because of an injured wrist.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic beat Gilles Simon 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

DAVIS CUP: The International Tennis Federation ruled that Davis Cup matches next month will be moved out of Ukraine and Israel because of security issues in both countries.

HOCKEY

NHL: The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Leon Draisaitl, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, to a three-year entry level contract.

Draisaitl had 105 points (38 goals, 67 assists) in 64 regular-season games for the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders last season. He also had a goal and two assists in four playoff games.

TRACK

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: Jo Pavey won the first major title in her career at 40, taking the lead in the last lap to outkick two Frenchwomen chasing her and claim the gold medal in the 10,000 meters in Zurich.

AUTO RACING

NASCAR: 3M reached a three-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports and will serve as Jeff Gordon’s primary sponsor for 11 races a season starting in 2015.

3M had been on Greg Biffle’s car for Roush-Fenway Racing.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

UFC: Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones injured his leg, forcing the postponement of his title fight with Daniel Cormier to Jan. 3.

Jones (20-1) was scheduled to fight Cormier (15-0) at UFC 178 in Las Vegas on Sept. 27 in the mixed martial arts promotion’s most anticipated event of the fall.

Instead, Jones and Cormier will headline UFC 182, the promotion’s traditional year-end show in Las Vegas.

Here at MaineToday Media we value our readers and are committed to growing our community by encouraging you to add to the discussion.

To ensure conscientious dialogue we have implemented a strict no-bullying policy. To participate, you must follow our Terms of Use. Click here to flag and report a comment that violates our terms of use.